Actress Kim Ji Won is finally returning to television after two years with SBS's new medical drama Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia, and the production team is already expressing confidence in its ratings.
On October 7, SBS held a press conference for the upcoming Friday and Saturday drama, attended by director Lee Jung Rim and cast members Kim Ji Won, Lee Jung Eun, Son Hyun Joo, and Kim Woo Seok.
During the event, director Lee Jung Rim made an unusually specific ratings prediction, saying he hopes the drama's first episode will achieve 9.21% viewership.
He explained, "My birthday is September 21, so I'd like to set a target of 9.21% for the premiere ratings."
Actress Lee Jung Eun immediately showed her confidence in the drama, responding, "We won't fail."
Son Hyun Joo then lightened the mood with a more modest reaction.
"That's too high. I'd be grateful even if just 0.01% of viewers watched our drama," he joked.
The playful exchange drew attention as the cast prepared for the highly anticipated premiere.
Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia follows Gye Soo Jung, a brilliant surgeon who refuses to compromise and challenges corruption and power struggles within a major hospital.
The series is a Korean adaptation of the popular Japanese Doctor X franchise, which ran for seven seasons and also released a film.
For Kim Ji Won, the drama marks her first television appearance in a leading drama role since the 2024 hit Queen of Tears.
Speaking about her return after two years, the actress admitted that she felt both excited and nervous.
"It's been a long time since I've greeted everyone like this, so my hands are shaking. I'm excited and nervous. During my break, I spent time thinking about and preparing what kind of performance I wanted to show next," she shared.
Kim Ji Won also revealed that viewers will see a different side of her compared to her glamorous appearance in Queen of Tears.
For her role as Gye Soo Jung, she chose a shorter, rougher hairstyle and a simpler look that better reflects her character's personality.
She explained, "I tried a rough bob haircut to express the character. In Queen of Tears, I showed a lot of glamorous fashion, but this time, I wanted to remove as much of that glamour as possible."
The actress previously wore short hair in the 2016 hit drama Descendants of the Sun, making her latest transformation another noticeable change in her appearance.
Kim Ji Won also shared that she was drawn to the project because of director Lee Jung Rim and the opportunity to work alongside respected senior actors.
In particular, she expressed excitement about working with Lee Jung Eun, who plays Jang Hee Sook, the head of a doctor placement agency motivated by money.
Lee Jung Eun revealed that she had wanted to work with Kim Ji Won for some time after hearing positive comments about her from other industry professionals.
Kim Ji Won returned the praise, saying, "It was such a happy experience. I got both happiness and the chance to learn through our chemistry."
She then jokingly added that she hopes the two can win a Best Couple Award for their performances.
Meanwhile, Son Hyun Joo plays hospital director Boo Seung Kwon, while Kim Woo Seok portrays surgical intern Park Tae Kyung.
Director Lee Jung Rim explained that the Korean adaptation will keep the strengths of the Japanese original while adjusting the characters, medical environment, and storytelling to better connect with Korean viewers.
Kim Ji Won also acknowledged the pressure of taking on her first medical drama but said she worked hard to deliver a convincing performance.
With Kim Ji Won's long-awaited return, a strong supporting cast, and the director's ambitious 9.21% premiere ratings target, attention is now turning to whether Doctor X can meet expectations.
Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia is scheduled to premiere on October 9 at 9:50 PM KST on SBS.
